LAW-30091: Gender, Sexuality & Law

School of Law

LAW-30091

Gender, Sexuality & Law

Co-ordinator:

Prof Alex Sharpe Room: CBC2.024, Tel:33528

Teaching Team:

Lecture Time:

See Timetable...

Level:

Credits:

Study Hours:

150

School Office:

Tel: 01782 733218

Programme/Approved Electives for

Law Dual Honours (Level 3)
Law Minor (Level 3)
Law Single Honours (Level 3)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Barred Combinations

None

Prerequisites

None

Description

This module will introduce you to issues relating to gender, sexuality and law. There is particular research strength in this field of scholarship within the School. The module will approach questions of gender and sexuality from historical, theoretical and law reform perspectives. Feminist and Queer theories will provide you with critical tools to make sense of contemporary law as will a journey back in time to consider the legal regulation of sexuality in ancient Greece. What do we mean as a culture and as a legal system when we use words like sex, gender, and sexuality? How many sexes, genders and sexualities do you think there are? Te module will challenge the notion that there are only two: male/female (sex); masculine/feminine (gender); heterosexual/homosexual (sexuality). In the process, you will learn something about the role law plays in the production, regulation and erasure of particular sexed, gendered and sexual identities. The module will consider a number of concrete examples of social and legal struggle around issues of gender and sexuality. Thus you will examine the medico-legal regulation of transgender people; lesbian; gay and queer legal struggles; genital cutting in the context of and intersex children; intimate violence against women in the context of forced marriage and more generally AND the legal regulation of sex trafficking.

Aims

1. to introduce students to the concepts of gender and sexuality.
2. to enable students to develop a critical perspective on the relationship between gender, sexuality and the law.

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically analyse the role law plays in the regulation of gender and sexuality will be achieved by assessments: 1
demonstrate a critical and evaluative understanding of sexual and gender dimensions of law/legal studies will be achieved by assessments: 1
apply theoretical knowledge to a series of 'concrete' socio-legal issues will be achieved by assessments: 1
develop independent research and writing skills through completion of a research essay will be achieved by assessments: 1

Study hours

9 tutorial classes x 2 hours = 18 hours
preparation time for each tutorial class - 4 hours x 9 = 36 hours
Independent research required for formative assignment and assessed 4,000 word essay (reading, preparation &writing) = 96 hours

Total: 150 hours

Description of Module Assessment

01: Essay weighted 100%

4,000 word research-based essay
Students will be required to submit a 500 word plan and bibliography in advance of the summative assessment. Feedback will be provided on the formative assessment. As summative assessment students will complete an essay of 4,000 words. A choice of essay questions will be provided. Students will be required to engage critically with the course materials and to conduct independent research.

02: Essay-Plan

Formative assessment
Students will be provided with the opportunity to submit a 500 word plan and bibliography in advance of the summative assessment. Feedback will be provided on the formative assessment.

Version: (1.05A) Created: 01/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.